Transit Authority director says new city money for transit less than he expected

The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority director said he learned this week that the city of Birmingham is providing $9 million a year in new money for transit improvements, not the $17 million he had thought.

BJCTA director David Hill said today he was surprised when he learned of the discrepancy in a meeting Monday with members of the mayor's staff. Until this week, Hill said he believed the city would provide $17 million from business license fees in addition to its current allocation, which added up to about $7.5 million for fiscal 2008.

Hill said he believes the misunderstanding probably was caused by miscommunication. He has $8 million a year less for transit than he believed he would get, but the difference won't stop transit improvements, he said. "We just won't be able to bring things on as fast."

BJCTA Board Chairman Brian Hamilton said he understood the city would provide $9 million in new money. No official deci­sions have been made that de­pend on getting $17 million in new money from the city, he said.